New species of ancient crocodile that lived 95m years ago discovered

Washington, Feb 1 (ANI): A new species of prehistoric crocodile dating to the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 95 million years ago, has been discovered by a University of Missouri researcher.

The extinct creature, nicknamed "Shieldcroc" due to a thick-skinned shield on its head, is an ancestor of today's crocodiles.

Its discovery provides scientists with additional information about the evolution of crocodiles and how scientists can gain insight into ways to protect the species' environment and help prevent extinction.

"Aegisuchus witmeri or 'Shieldcroc' is the earliest ancestor of our modern crocodiles to be found in Africa. Along with other discoveries, we are finding that crocodile ancestors are far more diverse than scientists previously realized," said Casey Holliday, co-researcher and assistant professor of anatomy in the MU School of Medicine.

Holliday identified Shieldcroc by studying a fossilized partial skull specimen, which was discovered in Morocco and held by the Royal Ontario Museum of Toronto for several years before Holliday analyzed it.

By analyzing blood vessel scarring on the bone, Holliday determined that the crocodile would have had a structure on top of its head, resembling a shield. The dents and bumps on the bone indicate veins delivered blood to a circular mound of skin, something never before seen in a crocodile.

He said the shield was likely used as a display structure to attract mates and intimidate enemies and possibly as a thermo-regulator to control the temperature of the animal's head.

Holliday compared Shieldcroc's skull to those of other crocodilians. By comparing slopes of various bones, he found that the new species had a flatter skull than other known species. With this information, he believes it is unlikely that Shieldcroc wrestled dinosaurs on or near the shoreline. Instead, Holliday said the fossil indicates that Shieldcroc had thin jaws, likely used to catch fish.

"We believe Shieldcroc may have used its long face as a fish trap," said co-author Nick Gardner, an undergraduate researcher at Marshall University.

"It is possible that it lay in wait until an unsuspecting fish swam in front of it. Then, if it was close enough, Shieldcroc simply opened its mouth and ate the fish without a struggle, eliminating the need for strong jaws," Gardner assumed.

In addition, Holliday analyzed Shieldcroc's skull and brain to estimate the overall size of the reptile. Using several parameters, Holliday and Gardner estimate that this specimen had a 5-foot long head and was 30 feet long.

The discovery was published this week in the journal PLoS-ONE (Public Library of Science). (ANI)